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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
What definite plans are there for an increase in the number of swimming pools and sports grounds in the near future? Would the Chairman please bring before Government the inadequacy of healthy means of recreation for young people living in overcrowded conditions?
Are there any definite plans for swimming pools in all over-crowded areas such as Lai Chi Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong, Western District and Chai Wan?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
In reply to the first part of the question, the admission figures for Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool during the first 30 days of its operation were given in the reply to an earlier question by Mr. SALES. During the same period 48,212 people were admitted to the Victoria Park Swimming Pool. I am afraid that it is not possible to give exact figures as to the number of people who are able to use the pools each day, since this must depend on, amongst other things, how long they spend there. However, the highest number of users in one day during this 30-day period, 10,443 at Kowloon Tsai and 4,868 at Victoria Park, provides some indication in this respect. There are at present in the urban area 10 full-sized football pitches, 32 mini-soccer pitches and 69 basketball courts open to the public.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The need for more recreational facilities for the youth of the Colony is recognized.
On the third part of the question, as regards swimming pools I refer to a reply given by my friend the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to a question at the Council meeting in June, which included mention of certain proposed projects. On the question of sports grounds, it is hoped that in the next three years a further 24 sports grounds of varying sizes will be completed, which will provide an additional 20 full-sized football pitches, 20 mini-soccer pitches and 32 basketball courts. On the fourth part of the question the answer is 'Yes'. This has been done frequently in the past. Government is well aware of the situation and is anxious to change it. On the fifth part of the question, I refer again to answers given at the meeting of the Council in June, when reference was made to proposals, some of them tentative only, for swimming pools at Lai Chi Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong and Kennedy Town, four out of the six areas named in the question.
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DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, as a supplementary, can you tell me what are the operating hours of the restaurants attached to these swimming pools, that is, at what hour do they open and at what hour do they close?
CHAIRMAN: I would not like to vouch for the correctness of my answer, but I think the restaurants operate during the same hours as the swimming pools. At Victoria Park I think the restaurant is open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night. I assume, but I am not certain of this, that the same arrangements obtain at Kowloon Tsai, but the pool there is closing earlier at the present time owing to difficulties over lighting.
DR. LEE: Is it specified in the contract, Sir?
CHAIRMAN: I could not tell you offhand, Sir. Perhaps the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee knows.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the operation of restaurants rests with another Select Committee responsible for restaurants—I believe Dr. LEE is a member—and not with the Urban Amenities Select Committee, even though these restaurants may be attached to the swimming pools, but they are not flooded in consequence. (Laughter).
DR. LEE: I do not think my question has been answered, Mr. Chairman. Would you care to find out and let me have the answer later?
CHAIRMAN: I would be glad to, Sir.
MRS. ELLIOTT: May I thank the Chairman for his patience in answering almost the same question twice to-day, especially for the assurance at the fourth paragraph of his reply.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, having regard to your reply to the second and fourth parts of Mrs. ELLIOTT's question and if Government is indeed aware of the great need for more recreational areas and the tremendous inadequacy of the facilities that exist at present, will you please make representations to Government to expedite the construction of the facilities which are embodied in the last sentence of the third paragraph of your reply?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, thank you. Having regard to the fact that everyone seems to be agreed that there is not enough amenity for the recreation of the younger people of Hong Kong and the gross
Page 93 of 312
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Page 92 of 312
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
What definite plans are there for an increase in the number of swimming pools and sports grounds in the near future? Would the Chairman please bring before Government the inadequacy of healthy means of recreation for young people living in overcrowded conditions?
Are there any definite plans for swimming pools in all over- crowded areas such as Lai Chi Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong, Western District and Chai Wan?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: -
In reply to the first part of the question, the admission figures for Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool during the first 30 days of its operation were given in the reply to an earlier question by Mr. SALES. During the same period 48,212 people were admitted to the Victoria Park Swim- ming Pool. I am afraid that it is not possible to give exact figures as to the number of people who are able to use the pools each day, since this must depend on, amongst other things, how long they spend there. However, the highest number of users in one day during this 30-day period, 10,443 at Kowloon Tsai and 4,868 at Victoria Park, provides some indication in this respect. There are at present in the urban area 10 full-sized football pitches, 32 mini-soccer pitches and 69 basketball courts open to the public.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The need for more recreational facilities for the youth of the Colony is recognized.
On the third part of the question, as regards swimming pools I refer to a reply given by my friend the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to a question at the Council meeting in June, which included mention of certain proposed projects. On the question of sports grounds, it is hoped that in the next three years a further 24 sports grounds of varying sizes will be completed, which will provide an additional 20 full-sized football pitches, 20 mini-soccer pitches and 32 basketball courts. On the fourth part of the question the answer is 'Yes'. This has been done frequently in the past. Government is well aware of the situation and is anxious to change it. On the fifth part of the question, I refer again to answers given at the meeting of the Council in June, when reference was made to proposals, some of them tentative
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
163
only, for swimming pools at Lai Chi Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Kwun Tong and Kennedy Town, four out of the six areas named in the question.
DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, as a supplementary, can you tell me what are the operating hours of the restaurants attached to these swimming pools, that is, at what hour do they open and at what hour do they close?
CHAIRMAN: I would not like to vouch for the correctness of my answer, but I think the restaurants operate during the same hours as the swimming pools. At Victoria Park I think the restaurant is open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night. I assume, but I am not certain of this, that the same arrangements obtain at Kowloon Tsai, but the pool there is closing earlier at the present time owing to difficulties over lighting.
DR. LEE-Is it specified in the contract, Sir? CHAIRMAN:-I could not tell you offhand, Sir. Perhaps the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee knows.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the operation of restaurants rests with another Select Committee responsible for restaurants-I believe Dr. LEE is a member-and not with the Urban Amenities Select Com- mittee, even though these restaurants may be attached to the swimming pools, but they are not flooded in consequence. (Laughter).
DR. LEE: I do not think my question has been answered, Mr. Chairman. Would you care to find out and let me have the answer later?
CHAIRMAN:-I would be glad to, Sir.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-May I thank the Chairman for his patience in answering almost the same question twice to-day, especially for the assurance at the fourth paragraph of his reply.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, having regard to your reply to the second and fourth parts of Mrs. ELLIOTT's question and if Government is indeed aware of the great need for more recreational areas and the tremendous inadequacy of the facilities that exist at present, will you please make representations to Government to expedite the construction of the facilities which are embodied in the last sentence of the third paragraph of your reply?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, thank you. Having regard to the fact that everyone seems to be agreed that there is not enough amenity for the recreation of the younger people of Hong Kong and the gross
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